If you thought the duck rolls from last week were peak drama, Episodes 9 and 10 said, “Hold my rice wine.” These episodes served up intensity on every front, from politics and romance to sabotage and jaw-dropping culinary reveals that made me hit rewind more than once. This drama isn’t letting us catch our breath, and honestly, I’m living for it.
What’s Cooking in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty‘s Episodes 9-10?
The Culinary Nation Wars are sizzling, and Ji-young’s resilience continues to shine despite endless sabotage. King Yi Heon’s feelings for her are basically at a rolling boil, but palace politics won’t let them simmer in peace. Prince Jesan’s scheming grows messier by the minute, the Ming envoy keeps dangling diplomatic threats, and every dish becomes both a political weapon and a love letter wrapped in lettuce.
Episode 9: When Life Gives You Dried Fish…
This episode dove straight into chaos with a seafood challenge—except Jesan’s goons sabotaged the fishing boats. Suddenly, Joseon’s short on fresh catch, and Ji-young has to compete with… dried pollack. The audacity!
While the Ming team flaunts pristine abalone and glossy river shrimp, our girl refuses to fold. She crafts a bouillabaisse-inspired masterpiece using dried fish broth, layering flavors with palace garden herbs. Gong-gil nearly torches the whole kitchen before redeeming himself with an inspired garnish—comedy gold meets culinary genius.
The real tea? Heon finally explodes at Jesan during judging. Their cousin tension detonates in front of the Ming envoy—politically disastrous but emotionally chef’s kiss. Watching our king lose his royal composure for Ji-young felt like a significant milestone in their relationship.
The romance subplot delivered pure sweetness: Ji-young tending to Heon’s injured hand after his angry outburst. That close-up of their almost-touching fingers? The longing was so thick you could cut it with a kitchen knife.
Episode 10: Fusion Confusion and Royal Confessions
Episode 10 cranked the heat to maximum. The fusion challenge asked chefs to “merge cultures into one dish”—basically Ji-young’s specialty. Her Joseon duck with French wine reduction was so ahead of its time that the judges sat in stunned silence. Revolutionary cuisine, anyone?
But then came the bombshell: Ming’s envoy openly declares interest in claiming Ji-young as tribute. The entire court freezes. Heon’s face darkens like storm clouds, and for the first time, he drops all pretense. His “She is under Joseon’s protection” might as well have been tattooed on his forehead as a love confession.
Meanwhile, Bailong’s backstory deepens, revealing growing loyalty to Joseon and quiet respect for Ji-young—possibly setting up a future alliance against the corrupt Ming envoy. The political layers are stacking higher than a wedding cake.
Naturally, Jesan keeps plotting, now recruiting Mok-ju to spy on Ji-young’s recipes. The preview hints at an outright coup attempt during the finals because, apparently, we’re heading straight into palace warfare with a side of kimchi.
Connecting the Dots (With Extra Seasoning)
Heon’s Confession Alert: This man is practically vibrating with jealousy whenever Ji-young breathes near another human. Those murderous eyes when Ming mentioned “tribute woman”? If that’s not set up for a desperate corridor confession (or at least an almost-kiss), I don’t know what is. My money’s on a “feelings spill out during anger” moment.
Jesan’s Coup Countdown: The timing screams final-round chaos. Picture this: dishes being judged, tension thick as honey, and boom—Jesan strikes. He’s absolutely the type to pick the most dramatically inconvenient moment. I’m here for the mess.
Tribute Twist Territory: If Ming keeps pushing this tribute nonsense, we’re heading straight into “fake marriage with real feelings” territory. Heon throwing down a marriage card to protect Ji-young? I would scream, cry, throw my remote, then replay it ten times. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t do the same.
Bailong’s Wild Card: He’s giving major “secret ally” vibes, but K-dramas love their plot twists. Will he risk everything for Ji-young, or are we getting a heartbreaking betrayal that sends us sobbing into our instant noodles? Either way, he’s holding cards we haven’t seen yet.
Final Thoughts
Episodes 9 and 10 left us absolutely starving—for both the gorgeous food on screen and the romance still dancing tantalizingly out of reach. If this pacing continues, we’re in for a finale that’ll be equal parts spicy, sweet, and utterly unforgettable.
The political intrigue is thickening like a perfect sauce, the romantic tension could power a small village, and every cooking scene makes me simultaneously hungry and emotionally devastated. What more could we ask for?
Don’t miss a single sizzling moment. Saranghero will continue to serve up every delicious update on Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.